Refugees from Mariupol city, Ukraine

[Vlad61]

Hello everyone,
I am a new guy here and would like to ask your advices. My friends's family run away from Mariupol city: 85-years old mom, her 55-years old daughter and her husband. Right now they are in Moscow, Russia - they have family members there. They drove by their own car all the way, and that's all what they own now, after 3 weeks spent in basement, and their own house was destroyed. There is no future for them in Russia. Immigration to Canada is the best way for them, I think. My questions - how to organize it? Maybe, you know any non-profits in Canada who they may contact with? Thank you.

 

[Masjuy]

Hello everyone,
I am a new guy here and would like to ask your advices. My friends's family run away from Mariupol city: 85-years old mom, her 55-years old daughter and her husband. Right now they are in Moscow, Russia - they have family members there. They drove by their own car all the way, and that's all what they own now, after 3 weeks spent in basement, and their own house was destroyed. There is no future for them in Russia. Immigration to Canada is the best way for them, I think. My questions - how to organize it? Maybe, you know any non-profits in Canada who they may contact with? Thank you.

I have many relatives in Mariupol. What can say for now congratulations that they are alive. Are you in Canada ? There is no traditional path for refugees and I do not know any of no profit organizations who can help to get here and cover all costs. Canada is very expensive country, no easy to get here even Ukrainian applications have priorities.

 

[scylla]

Hello everyone,
I am a new guy here and would like to ask your advices. My friends's family run away from Mariupol city: 85-years old mom, her 55-years old daughter and her husband. Right now they are in Moscow, Russia - they have family members there. They drove by their own car all the way, and that's all what they own now, after 3 weeks spent in basement, and their own house was destroyed. There is no future for them in Russia. Immigration to Canada is the best way for them, I think. My questions - how to organize it? Maybe, you know any non-profits in Canada who they may contact with? Thank you.

Are they Ukrainian nationals? If so, they can apply for the CUAET visa. This isn't an immigration stream but it will allow them to come to Canada on temporary visas to work and potentially qualify to immigrate through an economic immigration stream.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/cuaet.html

They will need to fund their flights to Canada on their own.

 

[Vlad61]

I have many relatives in Mariupol. What can say for now congratulations that they are alive. Are you in Canada ? There is no traditional path for refugees and I do not know any of no profit organizations who can help to get here and cover all costs. Canada is very expensive country, no easy to get here even Ukrainian applications have priorities.

Thank you. I am not in Canada, I live in US. We can cover their plane tickets to reach Canada, that's not a problem. I know, Canada has big Ukrainian community, that's why I was sure it's better for them to be in Canada. They will need assistance with housing, job search, cultural adaptation for the first time.

 

[Vlad61]

Are they Ukrainian nationals? If so, they can apply for the CUAET visa. This isn't an immigration stream but it will allow them to come to Canada on temporary visas to work and potentially qualify to immigrate through an economic immigration stream.

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/cuaet.html

They will need to fund their flights to Canada on their own.

Thank you. Yes, they are Ukrainian nationals. Thank you for the link. We can buy them tickets for the flight but I was hoping that there is some special sort of help for new refugees from Ukraine because of large Ukrainian presence in Canada. Being fresh in different cultural community, they will need a lot of help at first time.

 

[scylla]

Thank you. Yes, they are Ukrainian nationals. Thank you for the link. We can buy them tickets for the flight but I was hoping that there is some special sort of help for new refugees from Ukraine because of large Ukrainian presence in Canada.

They won't have refugee status in Canada and won't qualify for refugee support.

The CUAET visa allows the to come as temporary residents and also get open work permits. There are some groups on facebook where people are offering Ukrainians places to stay for a few weeks or maybe months. I would suggest you search around there. However the expectation is that they get employment and be able to support themselves independently.

 

[Vlad61]

They won't have refugee status in Canada and won't qualify for refugee support.

The CUAET visa allows the to come as temporary residents and also get open work permits. There are some groups on facebook where people are offering Ukrainians places to stay for a few weeks or maybe months. I would suggest you search around there. However the expectation is that they get employment and be able to support themselves independently.

Thank you again. I'll search Facebook.

 

[canuck78]

Thank you. Yes, they are Ukrainian nationals. Thank you for the link. We can buy them tickets for the flight but I was hoping that there is some special sort of help for new refugees from Ukraine because of large Ukrainian presence in Canada. Being fresh in different cultural community, they will need a lot of help at first time.

Most of the programs are really geared towards individuals who have friends or family in Canada who can support them longterm or are relatively young with good English/French language skills or work skills that will allow them to support themselves pretty quickly. Would suggest looking at US programs if you are in the US and want to support your friends. Given the ages of your friends it will be very difficult for them to live in Canada longterm. Even if given support it will only be a minimal amount monthly and not enough to live on. Do they speak English/French? How old is the husband?

 

[Vlad61]

Most of the programs are really geared towards individuals who have friends or family in Canada who can support them longterm or are relatively young with good English/French language skills or work skills that will allow them to support themselves pretty quickly. Would suggest looking at US programs if you are in the US and want to support your friends. Given the ages of your friends it will be very difficult for them to live in Canada longterm. Even if given support it will only be a minimal amount monthly and not enough to live on. Do they speak English/French? How old is the husband?

Thank you. Husband is of same age. No language skills, that's why they want to be in same language surrounding. Return to Ukraine, probably, is the best way for them, but where to return? Life changed upside down for all those people...

 

[canuck78]

Thank you. Husband is of same age. No language skills, that's why they want to be in same language surrounding. Return to Ukraine, probably, is the best way for them, but where to return? Life changed upside down for all those people...

Would really suggest neighbouring countries where people may speak the language or other languages that they may speak like Russian. Many of the surrounding countries have somewhat similar languages so there can be some overlap or an ability to understand some of the basics. Many of the European countries seem to be providing a more generous support programs than the US and Canada and most European countries cover more healthcare services while in Canada it is more like 70% Medicare. If there is an opportunity to return to Ukraine being in a country close to the Ukraine will make returning possible. As previously noted Canada’s programs are really geared for those who have support in Canada and who can work in Canada and support themselves. Many seniors who have lived inCanada their whole lives and have family and friends in Canada struggle to afford to house and feed themselves and they qualify for much more financial support than your friends would. Unfortunately many low income seniors depend on the food bank in Canada.

 

[Phalos]

Thank you. Husband is of same age. No language skills, that's why they want to be in same language surrounding. Return to Ukraine, probably, is the best way for them, but where to return? Life changed upside down for all those people...

My wife is from Ukraine. She has family in the city of Izmail - there has been not even 1 bomb dropped there (knock on wood). There are still quiet places in Ukraine to live, especially now that Putin has changed his warpath to concentrate on the Donbas, as opposed to the whole of Ukraine. My wife is of course coming to Canada to live with me as she got her emergency visa. I hope you found the FB group there many Canadian folks who are willing to host Ukrainian families, as that is another option. Third option, perhaps since they fled Russian aggression that destroyed their home, by driving to Russia, that is an interesting one to wrap my head around but it does tell me something about Russia actually accepting Ukrainian refugees lol

 

[canuck78]

My wife is from Ukraine. She has family in the city of Izmail - there has been not even 1 bomb dropped there (knock on wood). There are still quiet places in Ukraine to live, especially now that Putin has changed his warpath to concentrate on the Donbas, as opposed to the whole of Ukraine. My wife is of course coming to Canada to live with me as she got her emergency visa. I hope you found the FB group there many Canadian folks who are willing to host Ukrainian families, as that is another option. Third option, perhaps since they fled Russian aggression that destroyed their home, by driving to Russia, that is an interesting one to wrap my head around but it does tell me something about Russia actually accepting Ukrainian refugees lol

Just want to stress in case others are reading this thread that many may be providing temporary housing to Ukrainians but unless it is family/close friends, those arriving are expected to move on to their own home within weeks or maybe in a few months depending on how generous the hosts are. Most are providing a place to land while Ukrainians look for employment, save a bit of money if they don’t have any savings, find their own home, get their kids in school, get shown the basics like how to use public transportation, open a bank account, get a health card if entitled to in that province, etc.